Folding bed



Sept. 1, 1931. MUCHLINSKI 15 I FOLDING BED Filed Oct. 2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 H006 Zin 52:1

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p a 1, 1931- MUCHLlNSKi 1,821,315

FOLDINGBED Filed Oct. 2 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lean f'fuc/z Z z 725/1. 5y fly W4 M Sept. 1. 1931. MucHLmK FOLDING BED Filed Oct. 2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 MUCHLINSKI 1,821,315

FOLDING BED Filed 001;. 2, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1520972757". Leon [Jae/z ZL' 725%(1'.v

Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING BED Application filed. October 2, 1926. 'Seria1 No..139,10G.

This invention relates to improvements in folding beds, more particularly to folding beds having a movable base or truck. The main objects of this invention are to provide U such a device which is safe in use; which is simple in construction; and in which the size of the base is reduced and a more compact arrangement provided, so that the bed will occupy less space when folded; to provide a folding bed which is easily operated, and which is effectually counterbalanced, especially in the intermediate positions; to provide a folding bed which is not liable. to

jack-knife or double up when rolled about on the floor, or when weight is placed on the head end; and to provide such a bed which is stable in the upright, folded position.

In this invention, the bed frame is foldably connected to the truck, or base, at either side. The head end of the bed is supported by the truck, and the foot is supported by straight, preferably hinged legs. The bed swings from the horizontal position to a vertical position above the truck, and is folded or unfolded by lifting or pulling on the head end.

The linkage, at either side of the frame, comprises two links and a cross link connecting the same. One link is pivotal'ly connected at the ends to the frame and to the truck respectively, and the other link. conveniently called a strut, is pivoted to the frame and has a slidable engagement with the base, under the control of thecross link connection with the first link. To eliminate tipping or jack-knifing when the bed is rolled about, especially in the unfolded position, the counterbalance springs are connected from the frame to .an attachment on the mid por tion of the pivoted link. This prevents the springs from exerting any tilting force directly on the truck. The effect of the spring is "only 'to cause the bed frame to tend torotate about'the pivotal connection with the upper end of said'link. 7

An illustrative embodiment of this inven- *tion is shown :in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a side-elevationof thebedin the merely by touching theleg.

unfolded position, with intermediate portions of the bed frame broken out.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, with the bed frame in the vertical or folded position.

Fig. 3 is a plan ,view', showing the foot end on y. I

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the same looking from the right side of Fig. 3. I

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the-joint m in the front leg and is taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

' F ig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the bed in the unfolded position. i

Fig. 8 shows an intermediate position.

Fig. 9 shows the vertical position.

Referring to the drawings, the bed frame 1 comprises a rectangular angle iron framework, having upturnedends 2 and 3 to which '10 are secured the head piece 4 and the foot piece 5, respectively. The head end issupported by the wheeled truck 6, to which the frame is connected by linkage 7, more fully described hereinafter, which is adapted to 1715 provide a stable support in the unfolded position, shown in Fig. 1, and also to hold the frame rigidly in the vertical position, to occupy a smallarnount offioor space with the least possible height.

The foot end 1s supported by hinged legs ,8, which automatically lock rigidly when in vertical position, and which are adapted to be unlocked when :in the horizontal position,

.85 As shown in detail 'n Fig. 5 andFig. 6,t he

legs 8 at the footiare made of hollow square tubing with the lower end 9 joined to the upper portion 10 by means of a hinge 11,

which is attached .to the upper and lower portions 10- and 11, inside .of the tubing in .a

concealed position. The bolt or hook member 12 is pivotally mounted in the upper portion 10, and lies a transverse position.

The member 12 is provided with a hook l3 which projects toengage with the upper end of the catch bar 14:, which is rigidly secured .in the lower me1nber9. When the bed is upright the lower "portion 9 hangs down as shown-in Fig. 2, to reduce theamount of 106 space occupied by the head end. This is of advantage where the bed is shoved into a closet where clothes are hanging along the walls.

When the foot end is pulled down the lower leg portions 9 remain substantially vertical, and the end of the catch 14 strikes the hook i3 and swings the latch 12 upward until the notch is registered and the latch member drops down by gravity. The latch member is prevented from droppingout of the end of the upper portion 10 by the counterweight portion 15, which strikes against the outer wall. When the leg is in the horizontal position the friction of engagement holds the bolt until the lower end of the leg is jarred or pushed up, whereupon the counterweight portion 15 of'the bolt causes the bolt to drop back and release to allow the leg to drop downward.

The base 6 comprises a substantially U shaped horizontal frame 16, made up of a channel section, with the channel flanges projecting outwardly. Usually a padding of felt is secured in between the flanges to provide a fender for protecting the furniture in the room. The open end of the U shaped frame is at the rear, and supporting wheel eastors 17 are attached on the four corners. The open ends are connected by depressed cross bar 18, comprising a length of tubing welded at the ends to depending bars 19 which are welded to the inner surfaces of the frame 16. This arrangement of the rear cross bar 18 allows the bed frame to be pivoted at a higher point than in the construction used heretofore where thecross portion was attached at the ends of the legs of the frame 16, and in the same plane, since the depressed cross bar allows more room for the swing of the head end of the bed.

a The linkage 7 comprises the strut 20, the link 21, and the cross link 22. V The strut 20 is pivotally connected to the frame 1, near the head end. At the lower end of the link 20 is attached a roller 23 which engages in an inclined slide 24, which is welded to the frame 16. The slide 24 comprises a channel shaped member,having the outer ends of the flanges bent slightly inwardly to retain the roller 23. hen the bed is down the'roller 23 rests in a depression 25, provided in the lower side of the member 24.

The link 21 has a pivotal connection with the frame 1 at a point spaced inwardly from the connection of the" member 20, and is :pivotallyconnected to the base frame 16 at a point near the front end thereof. The

'cross link 22 is pivotally connected to the mid portion of the link 21, and, at the opposite end, to the lower end of the strut 20.

As will be apparent from an inspection of T Fig. 1. and 2, and the diagrammatic views, Fig. 7', Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the strut 20 supports the frame in the horizontal position while the link 21 serves as a brace, 01' guiding member; while in the folded position the link 21 substantially constitutes the support, while the strut 20 becomes the brace.

The angle member 26 extends transversely across the truck frame and is connected at either end to each of the respective links 21 by means of a bracket 27. The counterbalance springs 28 are attached at the upper end to a frame cross member 29. and at the lower end to the angle 26 which is rigidly connected to the links 21.

As shown in the upright position the angle 26 provides a stop for the lower end of the frame 1. It will be seen that in this folded position the strut 20 is inclined forwardly member 26. This also forms a toggle arrangement which is easily broken from the locked position by pulling down on the foot end of the bed.

It will be seen that in Fig. 2 the springs 28 are pulling substantially in alinement with link 21 against the pivot at the upper end of the link 21, which makes the springs of no operative effect in this position As soon as the end is pulled down, the efiective radius of the point of application of the spring with respect tothe upper link pivot increases to make the spring of maximum effect in the intermediate positions to support the weight of the bed and prevent the bed from falling down. In the horizontal positions the counterbalance springs are still of some effect to lighten the load of lifting the foot end.

For any we b strut 22 is held in place by the link 21, and the cross link 22 provides a rigid resistance; but the slight additional resistance or lock provioed by the depression 25 is needed to prevent the lowerend of the strut 20 from moving when a. weight is applied to the head end. Altho such a provision may not be absolutely necessary, it provides an effective safeguard and does not interfere materially with the operation of the bed. The head frame l is hinged in the usual manner, with the upper portion 80 connected to the extended end 31 of the strut 20 by means of the bent link 32 so that the upper portion 30 is automatically folded inwardly.

.VVhile but one illustrative embodiment has been shown and described many alterations and omissions may be had without departing from the spirit of the invention, as de fined in the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a folding bed, a base, a bed frame, a bar pivotally connected at the respective ends to said base and said frame. a strut pivoted .5 end of the frame firmly against the stop t below the strut 20, the

to said frame near the pivoted frame connection of said bar, the lower end of said strut slidably engaged with the base, and a link between said lower end of the strut and the mid portion of said bar.

2. In a folding bed; a base; a bed frame; and a linkage between said frame and the base; said base having a slideway having adepression; and said linkage including a strut pivotally connected at the upper end to said frame and having a roller at the lower end engaged in said way, the strut positioned substantially vertically in the unfolded position of the bed with said roller in said depression.

3. In a folding bed. a base, a bed frame, a pivoted link connection between said truck and frame, an inclined slideway on said truck, a strut pivoted at one end to said frame,

and having its other end slidably engaging said slideway, and a link connecting said link and strut.

4. In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an upending bed-frame, front and rear links connected to said truck and to said frame at points substantially coplanar therewith respectively, the connecting points of the links and frame in the extended position of the frame being spaced horizontally a greater so distance from the connecting point of the forward link and truck than from the connecting point of the rear link and truck.

5. In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an up-endable bed frame, front and rear links as connected to said truck and frame, the connecting point of the front link and frame in the extended position of the frame overlying apoint on the truck substantially midway between the connecting points of said links 49 and truck.

6. In a roll-about, foldable bed, a low truck, an upending bed frame, front and rear links at each side of the bed extending downwardly from the bed frame and pivotally connected in thereto at fixed points and having means pivotally supporting their lower ends on the truck whereby the links serve as means by which the bed frame is upended, the points of connection of the front and rear links 7.. with the frame lying above and substantially midway of their points of support on the truck when the bed is upended and the points of connection of the rear links with the frame moving materially upwardly and rearwardly as the bed is moved from vertical to horizontal position.

Signed at Chicago this 28th day of Sept.

LEON MUCHLINSKI. 

